Railroads Industry Terminology

Examples: “The shipper disputed accessorial charges for weekend switching.”; “Storage and diversion accessorials added $400 to the waybill.”; “Our contract caps accessorial charges at $25 per car per day.”

Examples: “The design complies with AAR standards.”; “We filed the embargo in the AAR system.”; “AAR rules govern interchange settlement.”

Examples: “This subdivision is ABS with intermediate signals.”; “Enter the next block only on a proceed aspect under ABS.”; “ABS helps maintain train separation without dispatcher control of every signal.”

Examples: “The AEI read at MP 123 shows the train intact.”; “Add AEI tags to the new gondolas before interchange.”; “AEI scans feed our real‑time car tracking.”

Examples: “ATC enforces cab signal speed reductions.”; “The commuter line’s ATC predates PTC.”; “ATC cut overspeed incidents by 80%.”

Examples: “We’re surfacing track after adding new ballast.”; “Poor ballast drainage caused mud spots.”; “Ballast fouling increases maintenance costs.”

Examples: “Hold at the home signal until the block clears.”; “We occupy two blocks near the siding.”; “Block occupancy triggered an approach signal.”

Examples: “The inspector rejected the load for inadequate blocking and bracing.”; “Use lumber and straps per AAR specs.”; “Improper bracing led to lading damage.”

Examples: “We can load the pallets through the 10‑foot double doors of a boxcar.”; “Boxcar supply is tight in harvest season.”; “Shift from boxcar to intermodal for finished goods.”

Examples: “Set the brake pipe to 90 psi per rule.”; “A sudden brake pipe drop triggered an emergency stop.”; “The EOT shows 88 psi at the rear.”

Examples: “We’re incurring car hire on foreign cars stuck in the yard.”; “Faster turns reduce per diem costs.”; “Car hire settlements reconcile daily use charges.”

Examples: “We ship chemicals as carload rather than intermodal.”; “Carload volumes rose 2% year‑over‑year.”; “The rate is per carload, not per ton.”

Examples: “The electrified corridor’s catenary is 25 kV AC.”; “Neutral sections in the catenary require coasting.”; “Storm damage brought down the catenary.”

Examples: “Dispatchers line routes via CTC from the control center.”; “CTC replaced timetable and train orders here.”; “CTC increases capacity on single track.”

Examples: “The U.S. Class I carriers include BNSF and UP.”; “Class I revenue thresholds are set by the STB.”; “Short lines feed traffic to Class I networks.”

Examples: “The consist is one engineer and one conductor.”; “Crew consist agreements limit one‑person crews.”; “Workload drives discussions on consist changes.”

Examples: “We incurred demurrage after exceeding free time.”; “Demurrage encourages faster car turns.”; “The demurrage invoice covers five days at destination.”

Examples: “Set the portable derail to protect the work zone.”; “A locked derail guards the industry lead.”; “Remove the derail after the lineup is confirmed.”

Examples: “We’ll add mid‑train DPU to manage in‑train forces.”; “Radio link to the DPU failed; we’ll troubleshoot at the next stop.”; “DPUs reduce drawbar stress on heavy grades.”

Examples: “Double‑stack service doubles capacity per train.”; “Clearances limit double‑stacking in tunnels.”; “The well cars are configured for double‑stack.”

Examples: “Terminal dwell fell to 22 hours.”; “Customer yard dwell drives demurrage.”; “Reducing dwell boosts network velocity.”

Examples: “Send the 417 rail waybill via EDI.”; “EDI status codes feed our TMS.”; “We onboarded a new shipper to EDI for billing.”

Examples: “ECP provides simultaneous brake applications.”; “Trials showed shorter stopping distances with ECP.”; “ECP wiring harnesses add maintenance complexity.”

Examples: “We issued an embargo due to flooding.”; “Lift the embargo once the bridge reopens.”; “Customers must request permits during the embargo.”

Examples: “The FRED shows 86 psi at the rear.”; “Arm the EOT before departure.”; “Use the EOT to initiate an emergency application.”

Examples: “FRA Part 213 governs track standards.”; “We reported the incident per FRA rules.”; “FRA approved the PTC implementation plan.”

Examples: “The intermodal FAK rate applies to mixed consumer goods.”; “We moved FAK in 40‑foot containers.”; “FAK pricing simplified their tariff.”

Examples: “Fuel surcharge is pegged to the HDF index.”; “Our contract includes a fuel surcharge cap.”; “Fuel surcharges offset diesel price spikes.”

Examples: “Standard gauge is 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm).”; “The mine uses 3‑foot narrow gauge.”; “Wide gauge requires special wheelsets.”

Examples: “Upgrade the crossing to active protection.”; “The city applied for a quiet zone at the crossing.”; “Blocked grade crossings drew complaints.”

Examples: “Heavy DP trains boosted GTMs.”; “We track GTM per route to allocate maintenance.”; “GTM includes locomotive and car weights.”

Examples: “HBD alarm at MP 45; stop and inspect.”; “We increased HBD spacing to 20 miles.”; “The hot bearing setout avoided a derailment.”

Examples: “We interchange with the Class I at Springfield.”; “Interchange rules govern car hire and liability.”; “Late interchange caused service failures.”

Examples: “Tower controls the interlocking limits.”; “No conflicting routes can be lined within the interlocking.”; “Signal governs movement through the interlocking.”

Examples: “Intermodal volumes rose on West Coast lanes.”; “We’re converting truckload to rail intermodal.”; “Ramp congestion disrupted intermodal turns.”

Examples: “The consist is three 4,400‑hp locomotives.”; “Battery locomotives are in pilot service.”; “Locomotive availability constrained starts.”

Examples: “MOW has a track window from 10 to 14 hours.”; “MOW gangs will replace 1,000 ties.”; “Budget includes MOW surfacing and rail grinding.”

Examples: “OR improved to 59.8% this quarter.”; “Pricing and productivity drive a lower OR.”; “Capex won’t directly affect OR this year.”

Examples: “We’ll meet the manifest in the passing siding.”; “Add a 10,000‑ft siding to boost capacity.”; “Hold in the siding for a hotshot to pass.”

Examples: “PTC prevented an overspeed on the curve.”; “The subdivision is fully PTC‑equipped.”; “PTC enforces limits of authority and work zones.”

Examples: “RTMs grew 3% in chemicals.”; “We benchmark cost per RTM.”; “RTM mix shifted toward merchandise.”

Examples: “The short line switches the plant daily.”; “Short lines aggregate carload traffic for interchange.”; “We partner with short lines for first/last mile.”

Examples: “Clear aspect; proceed at track speed.”; “Approach aspect—prepare to stop at the next signal.”; “Signal aspects vary by rulebook.”

Examples: “Line and lock the switch for the main.”; “The power turnout failed to throw.”; “Inspect the frog and points on the switch.”

Examples: “We load ethanol in DOT‑117 tank cars.”; “Tank car inspections found a valve leak.”; “Hazmat tank cars require special handling.”

Examples: “Replace 1,500 wood ties on the branch.”; “Concrete ties hold gauge better in curves.”; “Tie condition drives slow orders.”

Examples: “We have trackage rights over 60 miles of Class I mainline.”; “Fees are per train‑mile under the trackage rights agreement.”; “Trackage rights differ from haulage rights.”

Examples: “The coal unit train runs mine‑to‑plant with no reclassification.”; “Grain shuttles are unit trains.”; “Unit trains improve cycle times and costs.”

Examples: “Without a waybill, the car can’t move.”; “EDI 417 transmits the rail waybill.”; “Billing errors on the waybill delayed interchange.”

Examples: “The classification yard built a 80‑car manifest.”; “Yard congestion increased dwell.”; “Convert to flat switching after closing the hump.”